Two in a row.

He feels something soft on her cheek. Much soft on one...less soft on other. It seems odd because other soft one is moving to his shoulder now.

He opens his eyes lazily...

Saira is in front of him..

looking bit surprised more mad.

' Kya huya Saira beta? Aapka bukhar theek he na?'

'Aap bahut gande ho! Naina ko chot nahi lag jayegi..Aap Naina ko aise pakad kar kyu soye ho? Aap Naina ke pass se hato...Naina ke sath sirf Saira so sakti he. Aap utho..'

and he in horror looks down. Sleepy Naina is making bit movements hearing noise. before she can even open her eyes. He is now a feet away from her..Almost jumped out of sofa..Thanks to such a large sofa otherwise he could have a stiff neck and a broken leg.

'what happened Saira? Come here. lemme check your fever.'

She first checks her fever. She is ok. Her body temperature is normal. and her face is also back to its colours...light pink and lots of warm shades...

'Naina. Aap ne kaha tha na ki Aap sirf Saira ke sath soya karengi. Aap abbu ke sath kaise soye? Saira aapse baat nahi karegi.'

Its Naushad now whose face has turned shades..His cheeks is red now.

Saira puffs her cheek and is out of their sight in a nanosecond.

Naina laughs wholeheartedly seeing Angry Saira then her embarrassed father.

'Aap na aise bahut cute lag rahe ho!' and she goes on laughing.

On the other hand Naushad is bit hesitant. He knows last night he had broken out in her arms. He never wanted to...but it happened simultaneously. He makes attempts of going away...but..

she has held his wrist.

'We both have been through phases. And sharing is good.'

He has stopped...and made no attempts of leaving.

'I should thank you on other hand. You let me in.'

She holds his hands and assures him in a way only she can.

And in that moment a layer of ice has melt down. And on that icy cold water, warmth of belief has begun to work upon.

Naushad leaves nodding slightly. He is not the one who would and can take in change easily. he leaves for breakfast leaving Naina bit happy and sleepy. The moment he is out of room, she falls on sofa and sleeps. this time smile adorning her lips.

__________

After that revelation and sharing night.. Naina has become more confident and little loose around Naushad. Now she is not scared of him and many times she would herself scare Naushad away. and those moments are when he stops her from taking a break from her hospital and gets her real angry...

But thats once in a month because Naina has got reasons to work in hospital. The reason being Saira. She takes Saira with her. Little girl paints all the walls first then her colour book and then other objects who are not colourful as per her wish.

Its around evening amd Naina has returned from Hospital. She mostly attends less serious cases where she is not needed for long. as when saira is not around she keeps on calling home, checking on her. Khala has also got the situation hence she herself has started keeping phone amd Saira in range of her eyes.The nearer the better. 

Naina puts off her coat and loosens the dupatta from her neck and sits next to saira.who is painting something red and black.

She shuts her eyes..in pleasure. Her kid next to her...playing happily..What more would she ask for!

Then something strikes her..

That something Saira is painting, is somewhat similar to Naushad' favourite Muffler..

She almost snatches it from her but the damage has already been done.

'ye kya kar diya...'

'Saira ko rang karna tha. sari books bhar gayi aur deewaro par crayons toot rahe the..isiliye Saira ne ye kapda utha liya..'

'bahut badiya. Ab tumhare abbu aakar mujhe is duniya se uthayenge! Beta...Kapdo par rang kaun karta he? aur itni shiddat se? Ki poora muffler pot diya! '

Saira makes face..

'Aapne kaha tha na..ki saira rang ke sath khel sakti he..Ab aap saira ko daant rahi ho!'

'nahi mera baccha. Me to bol rahi hu bacha huya bhi rang do! Tumhare abbu ki jindagi me kahi se to rang aaye..'

and the girl has taken her advice seriously.soon the muffler is unrecognizable. Its another mop scratched and shaded..

Naina prays god for one last chance..She wants to see more of world before dying too early.

Naushad returns after one hour. and within moments he joins Saira in her room.

He kisses her cheek..

'Kaisa he hamara baccha?'

'Accha nahi...Naina ne Saira ko daanta.'

'Accha! Ruko abhi..Nainaa...Nainaaa'

She is coming to him running...fearing today he will make her wash that piece of cloth or something more and like finding exact piece like that.

when she comes, she sees Saira in Naushad' lap with a big smirk on her small face.

'You scolded her? You yourself give me lectures on being soft to her and now you scold her? Where your motherly instinct disappeared now?'

she breathes in.Her daughter is no more innocent.

'She painted your favourite muffler..'

'To tum isko daantogi? I can afford at least hundred such mufflers..No need to scold her.'

'Ok..kal se cupboard unlock rakhti hu. Saira..forget your colour books...paint your dad' clothes.'

and Nausjad is gritting his teeth..while Saira has now jumped to Naina. This time its her turn to get kiss.

he gets up and goes outside muttering under his breath..

'last time she was my daughter!'

And both girls laugh...

This is how the situations have lighted. Naushad being less moody and grumpy, His daughter more mischievous and Naina...She has become more sassy around him. And when she and Saira gangs up, Naushad gets it hard not to smile.

A single night has done the deed. Only if he knew it before..the sharing makes thing things easier.

_______________

Naushad is reading some files. Its late amd he has not had his dinner yet.

Naina brings his food to him and hesitantly sits on bed...on a distance.

He looks up first at her and then at food..

And then goes back to files..

Naina can sense something is wrong. He barely misses dinner. And today he made Saira asleep earlier than usual. And now himself is playing with papers.

She wants to ask what is the matter but can not...

She waits there...till he is getting up or giving her his attention.

She is looking at him...reading his features. He is handsome no doubt..no offense either. But there is more to his personality. Something inside that loose kurta..beating. She has understood one thing. Naushad has more in himself..Which she has not got one chance to know. She wants to know him...She wanted to know him since the day he brought her back..She wanted peek a boo into his heart ever since. and that night she only got a single glance. She has been intrigued. she wants more...

'I...I will eat. You can go and sleep.'

'No..I'll not.' A first straight rejection from her side....

Naushad looks up in surprise. She is there with him for twenty minutes. without a single complain and noise..

He puts the file down.

'We cant do this always. I am-'

'Khana khaalo...I dont need anything else.'

and this one gesture has gripped him. He has nothing more to say..nothing less to show.

He shifts the heap of files and opens the plate. He begins eating..

'Tumne khaya?'

she nods..but strangely he feels like she is lying.

'If you havent, You can....I will jot mind sharing.'

'Aap khao...I'll after you.'

He doesnt insist. And feels suddenly light when she herself brings one more plate of food. Both eats in silence.

Its him who takes the plate to sink and brings chocolate from fridge.

'Saira cant have this...but...'

'I can. I love chocolates. wow. Thanks a lot.'

She snatches it from him..And puts whole of it in mouth. She moans when it melts on her tongue..

Naushad watches in surprise. He never expected her to be the change...so soon.

He continues to amuse himself watching her enjoying chocolate..unaware of his tensions...and problems which he had brought home before.

________________

Its Sunday morning. Saira is running in whole house and shouting..

'Saira. Kitni baar kaha he..jyada excited ni hona he aapko! Aap sunte kab ho? Saira maan jaao..'

but she never listens. And soon collides with her dad who has spilled his kahwa. thankfully not on saira..But little girl in fear has cried out..

Naina rushes to her...lifting her in her arms, checking her thoroughly and then crushing her to herself.

'Kitni bar bola he..aise ni dauda karte.lekin meri sune koi tab na! I am telling you Saira...aage se aap agar daudi na to sare colour and books me donate kar dungi. phir room me lock rakhungi me aapko! Abhi hath jal jata ya phir koi aur body part! dard hota na..'

and unknown to her, Naushad watches her..and her teary eyes..

Within moments she has transformed herself to A mother. Only mother to his child..Who is now theirs..

Saira is scared a bit. Naushad pats her cheek..

'Its okk. Aapki ammi ko aise hi daatne ka shauk he. Aap jaao aur jaake Khala ko bolo ki Breakfast banaye jaldi se. Aaj Hum Saira ka favourite khaayenge.. okk?'

Soon the girl is smiling and running to kitchen.

Naushad holds her hand hesitantly. Its same with them. both bit hesitant around each other...

'Its nothing Naina. She is okk.'

'what if she got that burn? Aap khud dekh kar nahi chal sakte the? Apna kahwa sath me lekar chalna jaruri he? Aur aapko dikhai ni diya ki Saira hyper active ho rahi he. She rushes in morning. Atleast you'd have taken note of that. lekin nahi...Tumhe tumhara kahwa yahi isi table par peena he. Kitchen menahi pee sakte!'

she is huffing..

while Nausjad is amused. This woman is strange. She was scared before regarding saira now she is scolding him. And that too getting to TUM from AAP.

Soon she is out leaving him slight amused and slight happy and slight light headed. He goes back to kitchen and spots Naina smothering Saira. She is making her have her breakfast while Saira is moving too much.Sometimes pulling Khala' dupatta. and then picking up potatoes  from basket and throwing it randomly.

'Saira. Aaloo khaya jata he..phenka ni jata. Chupchap breakfast khao...'

But little devil never listens and soon whole table is a mess. She has spread all the veggies out of basket. and like a surprise An apple has hit Naushad' head just now. she is laughing very much. And then runs away...

Naina is tired but happy so is khala. And Naushad cant stop smiling himself rubbing his spot where that cursed apple just hit sometime ago.

Naina asks khala to settle things while she approaches Naushad with warm water bag.

She swats away his hand and places bag on his spot which is red now.

'Its nothing..Naina. It will be okay.'

'Look..I am not in mood of arguing. I have had too much with Saira already.Now shut up and sit straight.'

He obeys and Naina is putting bag on his head trying to lessen swollen skin amd at the mean time she is turning pages of a case file..

Naushad keeps that file away..and takes plates of omelet from khala. Handing one pair of cutlery to her while other to himself.

Little Saira is playing with her teddy and telling her stories..while her parents are eating together...for a first perhaps. and Khala is busy in thanking God for this spreading cozy warmth..in this house.